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<strong>The fire is being investigated by a judge-led inquiry</strong>

On Thursday, he sought to hold the first council cabinet meeting since the fire in private, citing legal advice that publicly receiving an update on the blaze could prejudice the public inquiry.

Journalists obtained a High Court ruling against the council and Paget Brown announced the meeting would be abandoned when reporters and members of the public showed up.

Addressing his controversial decision to suspend Thursday's meeting, he added: "It cannot be right that this has become the focus of attention when so many are dead and unaccounted for."

On Friday morning, a spokesman for Theresa May said: "The High Court ruled that the meeting should be open and we would have expected the council to respect that."

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<strong>Sadiq Khan has called for the Government to intervene and take over Kensington and Chelsea Council</strong>

He added: "This is a huge human tragedy for so many families.

"The task for my successor is to ensure that the strengths which also this characterise this place, and North Kensington in particular, are seen to play their part in bringing the community together and ensuring this borough, the most wonderful place, can start to move forward from this tragedy."

He refused to answer journalists' questions when he concluded his statement and left the room as a reporter asked whether Downing Street had pressured him to resign.

"Grenfell Tower is a catastrophe at the heart of the country's capital and after two weeks the council cannot get a grip on the situation," a Guardian editorial said.

"It's good news that the chief executive of the company that managed the Grenfell Tower resigned – but it should just be a prelude to the removal of the rest of the council leadership on whose behalf he operated."